Cyber Security Researcher

Duties

As a Cyber Security Researcher for CIA, you will focus in the cyber arena and specialize in the design, development, integration, and deployment of cutting edge tools, techniques, and systems to support cyber operations and other intelligence activities. Leveraging advanced knowledge and tradecraft with regards to computer and network security, Cyber Security Researchers produce creative, innovative, and elegant solutions to some of the toughest challenges. You will utilize your technical skills, imagination, ingenuity, initiative, and expertise to help develop, support, and execute the Agency's intelligence mission.

Most positions are located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, but opportunities to serve and travel overseas exist as your career and abilities develop.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be physically in the United States or one of its territories when you submit your resume via MyLINK.
• You must be registered for the Selective Service, if applicable.
• You must be willing to move to the Washington, DC area.
• You must successfully complete a thorough medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview, and a comprehensive background investigation.
• For further requirements information, please visit: ;/li>

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• 3 years of experience with a system programming language (preferably C or C++)
• Knowledge of:
  • Operating system concepts (UNIX/Linux, Windows, iOS, or Android) such as Security models, File systems, Process management and isolation, Inter-process communication, Networking, Cryptography
• Computer science fundamentals and software development best practices
• Basic Computer Network Exploitation (CNE) and Computer Network Attack (CNA) techniques and terminology
• Ability to design, develop, debug, and maintain a diverse portfolio of programs written in C/C++, using modern software development tools and methodologies
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment with competing and ever shifting priorities
• Ability to identify and manage risk
• Ability to demonstrated technical leadership
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, especially the ability to articulate technical requirements to a non-technical audience
• Passionate about security
• Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA , including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation

Desired Qualifications

• Master's or doctorate degree in one of the following fields:
  • Computer engineering
  • Computer science
  • Software engineering
  • Cybersecurity
  • Information security
• Proficiency with a scripting language such as Python, Bash, Ruby, or Powershell; the ability to do the following with a scripting language:
  • Automate tasks
  • Parse and interpret log output from operating systems, network devices, and infrastructure services
• Experience with kernel level programming
• Familiarity with assembly for one or more architectures (ARM, MIPS, x86/x64)
• Familiarity with reverse engineering and/or exploitation
  • Experience in vulnerability analysis of source code or assembly
  • Knowledge of exploitation techniques
  • Familiarity of exploitation mitigation techniques
  • Experience with Ghidra, IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, or a similar suite of tools
• Knowledge of industry threat models such as MITRE's ATT&CK or Lockheed Martin's Cyber Kill Chain
• Knowledge of common reconnaissance, exploitation, and post-exploitation frameworks
• Knowledge of networking fundamentals at all OSI layers
• Experience in red teaming or pen-testing
• Any of the following certifications:
  • Certified Ethical Hacker
  • Certified Penetration Tester
  • OSCE
  • GXPN
  • GWAPT
  • eWPTX
  • ECPTX

Education

• Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields or related studies:
  • Computer engineering
  • Computer science
  • Electrical engineering
  • Software engineering
  • Or, five (5) years of hands on professional experience in one of the following fields (Offensive security, System level software development)
• At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale

• Benefits
  Help
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
  
  

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For more information, please visit: .

• Benefits
  Help
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
  
  
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  For further information, please visit: .
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
  
  
• How to Apply
  
  This post is for viewing purposes only. To get started, please visit , where you can read more about this position and express your interest in up to four jobs. Upon expressing your interest, you will be taken to MyLINK, which allows you to submit your resume and job rankings and provide basic information about yourself.
  
  Agency contact information
  
  Central Intelligence Agency
  
  Website
  
  
  
  Learn more about this agency
  
  Next steps
  
  After you express interest for up to four positions on cia.gov/careers , a CIA recruiter may contact you for further discussion if your qualifications meet our needs. See the MyLINK FAQs on our website for more information.
  
  
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request
  
  

Required Documents

For further information, please visit: .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

This post is for viewing purposes only. To get started, please visit , where you can read more about this position and express your interest in up to four jobs. Upon expressing your interest, you will be taken to MyLINK, which allows you to submit your resume and job rankings and provide basic information about yourself.

Agency contact information

Central Intelligence Agency

Website



Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After you express interest for up to four positions on cia.gov/careers , a CIA recruiter may contact you for further discussion if your qualifications meet our needs. See the MyLINK FAQs on our website for more information.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request